Elucidation of the roles of the amygdala-anteriro cingulate loop in regulation of emotional behavior

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24240060
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Fusional social brain science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA Katsuki 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 教授 (70243110)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MIYACHI Shigehiro 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 准教授 (60392354)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-05-31 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 帯状回 / 情動 / 扁桃核 / 側頭極 / サル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Human imaging studies have suggested that dysfunction of the amygdala-anterior cingulate loop may cause affective disorder and anxiety disorder. However, the existence and function of the loop are still unknown. In the present study, we examined the neural connectivity and responsiveness of the anterior cingulate cortex using monkeys, which have brain structures and function similar to those of humans. We found that, unlike other frontal areas, the anterior cingulated cortex has dense connections with temporal areas related to emotional behavior, such as the temporal pole, perirhinal cortex, and the amygdala. We also found that some anterior cingulate neurons responded to emotional stimuli, such as photos of other monkey faces and snakes. These characteristics of the anterior cingulate may form the basis of its function of emotional regulation.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学